John 1:1-34

  1. In verses 1-3 what facts does John declare to be true of the Word?

  

Why are these facts significant for our understanding who Jesus is?

 

  1. How should verse 3 affect the way we view the world?

  

  1. What do the symbols of life (v. 4) and light (v. 5) tell us about Jesus and why he came to earth?

  

How has Jesus brought these qualities into your life?

 

  1. Verse 5 talks about the light and the darkness.   According to different translations of the Bible, the darkness has not understood, has not comprehended, has not apprehended, has not overcome, or has not mastered the darkness.  Looking at these different meanings, what does this verse say to you?

  

How has the light overcome the darkness in your life? 

 

What is the significance of this verse for unbelievers? 

 

  1. What is John the Baptist’s role as a witness?

 

Later, John states that John the Baptist did not perform one miracle.  Do you think he was disappointed?  Angry?  Jealous?

 

Why did John the Baptist stress that he was not the light, but only a witness to the true light?

 

What significance does this hold for us?

What qualities of John the Baptist do you admire?  Why?

 

  1. In verses 10-11, John states that even though Jesus created the world, the world did not recognize Him.  What do you think John meant? 

  

Why do you think the world did not recognize Him?

 

What do you think keeps people from recognizing Him today?

 

What can we do to see that they do receive Him?

 

Who were Jesus’ “own” in verse 11?

 

  1. What right does Jesus give to those who believe in His name?

  

How has this “right” changed your life?

 

How would you explain what it means to be “born of God” and not of the flesh?

 

  1. In verse 14, John states that “we have seen his glory.”  What is the significance of this statement?

  

  1. How would you explain the meaning and importance of verse 14 to someone who was searching for the truth?

  

  1. How would someone “full of grace and truth” treat others? 

  

How has the Living Word treated you?

 

  1. In verses 15-18, what does John the Baptist testify concerning Jesus?

  

  1. Why do you think the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to question John the Baptist?

 

What questions do they ask him?

 

What does John the Baptist answer?  Why do you think he was so abrupt?

 

What can we learn from John the Baptist in these verses?

  

  1. Read verses 1:19-34.  According to these verses, what steps did John the Baptist take to guarantee that people would not look to him but to Christ?

  

  1. How would you summarize John’s testimony concerning Jesus?

  

  1. Who made “straight the way of the Lord” in your life?

  

How can we do the same for others?

 

  1. What significance does the name “Lamb of God” hold for you?

  

  1. What is the difference between John the Baptist’s baptism with water and Jesus’ baptism with the Holy Spirit?

  

  1. Of the names for Jesus given so far (the Word, the Light, the Life, the Christ, the Lamb of God, the Son of God), which means the most to you?  Why?

 

  1. How do you think John the Baptist felt when his disciples began to leave him for the “Lamb of God”?

  

What does this say about John?

 

Why do you thing these disciples left John the Baptist to follow Jesus?

 

What caused you to want to follow Jesus?

 

  1. In verse 40, what was the first thing Andrew did after he heard about Jesus?

  

What motivated Andrew to do this?

 

What might cause us not to do this?

 

  1. Why do you think Jesus changed Simon’s name to Cephas? (What does Cephas or Peter mean?)

  

How might Peter have felt about this?

 

  1. In verses 35-48, we are introduced to the first five of Jesus’ disciples.  Name them.

 

Why is the name of the fifth disciple not stated?

 

  1. Based on these scriptures only, what conclusions can you draw about these five disciples?

  

            How did each one respond to Jesus?

  

            How did you respond when you first heard about Jesus?

  

            What are some of the responses you have encountered as you have shared your faith?

  

  1. In verse 48, look at Jesus’ answer to Nathanael.  What does this answer reveal about Jesus?

  

What does Jesus’ ability to “see” us mean to you personally?

  

  1. John records more than a dozen names or descriptions of Jesus in this chapter.  What are some of them?

  

Which of these names is most significant to you?  Why?

 

  1. What is the most meaningful truth for you from chapter 1?

 

Why?